Venerable FHS coach has Bulldogs on verge of three-peat
Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008
Players have changed and home games have been played at different venues, but coach Vance Arnold has been the one constant since Fayetteville High reconstituted its baseball program in 1988 after a quarter-century hiatus.
Today's 7 A state championship game marks the fifth time in seven years that Fayetteville (29-3 ) will play for the state title. A victory over 7 A-West Conference rival Springdale Har-Ber (23-9 ) today at Baum Stadium will give the Bulldogs their third-straight state championship and first 30-win season.
The heady days of the present are in stark contrast to the fledgling program's beginnings. Before moving into their current oncampus facility at Harmon Field, the Bulldogs played at several different venues that included old George Cole Field on the University of Arkansas campus.
Fayetteville found a permanent home when former head football coach and current athletic director Dick Johnson helped Arnold convert the football team's practice field into a baseball diamond following the 1991 season.
"I said, ' coach, why don't we don't build a baseball field on the practice football field, '"Arnold said. "Coach Johnson helped me get started, and we started putting this thing together. Each year through the support of the community we've improved this facility until we have what we have today. It didn't start out looking like this, believe me."
After winning the state title in 1960, Fayetteville disbanded its program following the'63 season.
"From what I've been told, the football coaches wanted their kids in track versus playing baseball," Arnold said. "That might not be the official reason, but that's what many of the old-timers have said."
Arnold had been a football and track coach at Fayetteville for eight years when he was selected to steward the baseball program back into existence.
"Part of it was because I was already on staff and it didn't cost the school system much," Arnold said of his hiring. "They could hire me and I could run it in conjunction with the football program. I've always had the mentality of cooperating with the other athletic programs and having a working relationship with them."
Arnold has departed from the hands-on approach that informed the early stages of his coaching career, choosing to delegate responsibilities to a capable cadre of assistants.
Randy Salsbury is the pitching coach, calling all the pitches in varsity games. Scott Williams positions the outfielders and coaches first base. Rory Heimsoth is the bench coach, keep tracking of substitutions and the team's books. Arnold's biggest concession might be ceding his third-base coaching duties to Scott Gallagher.
Gallagher coached third base last year during the nonconference season. This year Arnold has entrusted Gallagher to coach third for the entire season.
"If you're going to have guys that help you in sports in this day and age, you've got to let them coach," Arnold said. "Coach Gallagher's mentality and personality matches up a lot like myself. He thinks the same way I do. He's very respectful in the fact that he understands what I want to do.
"I can put him out there and feel confident that he's not going to do something crazy or the off the cuff. We all make mistakes. I've probably gotten more runners thrown out than anybody."
Some of the players have noticed a more mellow Arnold since he decided to shoulder less of the coaching burden. Catcher Dan Hollenbeck, who along with undefeated southpaw Taylor Shaddy will comprise Fayetteville's starting battery today, said Arnold has been more easygoing this year.
"This is the first year he hasn't been the third-base coach," Hollenbeck said. "He's tried to keep it more relaxed and step back a little bit. He's kind of mentored us through. Past teams he's kind of disciplined our way through the games and through the season. This year it's been more laid back."
Shaddy said Arnold's shift in tack is a product of him trusting the team. Veterans of many campaigns, the Bulldogs know what their coach expects from them.
"I think he trusts us more than other teams," Shaddy said. "He knows that we usually know what we're doing. He doesn't have to do a whole lot of correctional coaching."
Arnold said his coaching style has evolved into one that is less austere. Experience has taught him that encouragement is more a effective motivational tool than derision.
"Years I ago I learned that the more pressure you put on kids, the harder it is for them to handle certain situations," Arnold said. "I screw up and yell at kids and get down on kids, but I always try to go back and apologize to them and pick them back up. It's better to give them a positive correction than it is just being on their butt all the time."
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